So here's something I didn't know I needed in my life.

I finally, finally got a chance to watch this film. You have no idea how happy I am right now. I missed those overdramatic swimming geeks.

So for those of you who aren't familiar with this awesome anime, Free! Iwatobi Swim Club and Free! Eternal Summer are about five guys named Haruka, Makoto, Nagisa, Rei, and Rin. They're in high school and they're on a swim team and they're really good friends and it's just so good, the artwork is so good, just watch it if you have a chance, subbed. That's personally my recommendation, but...

...Also I cried at the end of Eternal Summer—*cough* I mean what.

Anyway, Starting Days is about the boys in middle school. It explores Haruka's and Makoto's friendship further than both seasons ever did, and we meet AWESOME side characters.

I loved this movie. I guess it's because my expectations were pretty low, considering that I felt at the time, the Free! franchise didn't really need a prequel. Boy was I wrong.

The lack of shirtless guy fanservice was also, I'll admit, a breath of fresh air. They spent around half of the movie swimming, and the other half exploring the characters and their background, which I always love.

And then we have the new characters, Ikuya and Asahi. Ikuya is my spirit animal. Asahi is my sister's. Just saying.

But now that I know the existence of these two, I kind of wished they were in the other anime, instead of Kisumi. I mean, Kisumi's alright, but Ikuya and Asahi are just plain awesome.

Also I don't even know why I put that image up there, I just thought it looked really funny and cute.

There was great character development, we get to meet little Sousuke and Rei, the feels train was real with this one, and oh my gosh just watch it all of you Free! fans. Just...just go watch it. Now.

I could also just put the whole movie here...but I dunno about copyright...and you probably don't wanna be sitting, looking at a screen for a full hour and fifty minutes on Wattpad of all places.

So I will give this movie a 9/10! Nice story, amazing artwork, great characters, but I felt the ending was a little abrupt, and I felt kind of confused as to why Asahi and Ikuya were never mentioned ever again, considering how strong of a bond Haru and Makoto form with them. Also Sousuke. What the heck was going on with him? The boys' relationship with him was far more stable in this movie than the other anime.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes watching anime that tackles friendship, sports, uncertainty for the future, etc. If you're not an interested fan of Free! then I think this movie would be a bit dull to watch.

But hey, if you're interested, go check it out! And if you haven't seen the other anime yet, be sure to watch ISC first, then ES, then SD.

Now I'm done that review.